ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. David Paterson is not seeking election, Democratic officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

Democratic officials in Washington were informed of Paterson’s plans early Friday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because Paterson had not publicly disclosed his plans.

Paterson formally announced his campaign just days ago but faced mounting calls to drop out of the race in the midst of controversy. A top aide is ensnared in a domestic-violence scandal, the governor was finding dwindling support in his own party and his campaign bank account paled in size to his rivals.

Paterson became governor in 2008, when former Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in a prostitution scandal. Paterson’s decision paves the way for Andrew Cuomo to make an unimpeded run for the Democratic nomination.

“The governor isn’t feeling pushed out,” said another person who talked with the governor about his decision and who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because Paterson hadn’t yet announced why he was ending the campaign. “He certainly realizes it’s very difficult to do a campaign and govern, and the focus now is on governing and the best interests of the state.”

It has been widely expected – and among some Democrats, eagerly awaited – that the more popular Cuomo would run for governor and help prop up a reeling Democratic party in the state. Cuomo, son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo, has already built a campaign fund five times larger than Paterson and consistently outpolls Paterson among New York Democrats, who hold a 2-to-1 edge over Republicans statewide.

Paterson has been weighed down by low approval numbers for months. His problems intensified in recent weeks with a series of critical articles in The New York Times. The last, published Thursday, raised questions about how Paterson and state police officials responded to a domestic abuse complaint lodged against longtime aide David Johnson.

Court papers said state police may have pressured the woman to not level criminal charges against Johnson. The paper also said Paterson spoke with the woman personally, although the governor’s office said it was the woman who placed the call.

Renewed calls for Paterson’s exit were made hours after the story’s publication, including one from a longtime ally, Rep. Steve Israel. The Long Island Democrat said he felt compelled to tell his friend that he should not seek election to a full term.

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AP National Political Writer Liz Sidoti in Washington contributed to this report.

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